Secrets of the Treasure King

by Terry Ambrose

  “They can wait. See you later.”

  With the call disconnected, Rick closed the accounting program for the B&B and shut the lid on his laptop. He checked to make sure the red yarn was in his top left drawer and closed it. Returning to the map on the wall, he studied it, then touched the protective glass cover. For all he knew, there was nothing behind the map. Captain Jack might have had second thoughts about those letters. It would have been just like his grandfather to change his mind and not tell the man responsible for carrying out his orders.

  There was only one way to find out, and he would not do that alone. He turned away and left his office in search of Marquetta. As he crossed by the upstairs coffee station, he stopped and checked the supplies. It was still fully stocked.

  Down the hall, Winnie Carston exited her room. Her eyebrows went up and a smile crossed her face when she saw him. “This has been such a delightful stay, Rick. Between the delicious breakfasts and the scrumptious cookies in the afternoon, I’ve probably put on five pounds.”

  “I doubt that, Winnie. You look as trim as the day you arrived.”

  “Believe me when I say, my clothing is telling me otherwise. However, Stephen and I will most definitely be returning.” Suddenly, her brows knitted themselves together. “This murder business. How terrible is that? It’s not a common thing here, is it?”

  “Don’t worry. Seaside Cove is a very safe place. Are you meeting Stephen now?”

  “Yes. He wants to visit Crusty Buns again. We’re meeting William and Dolores there for a midmorning snack. When we get home, Stephen and I are both going on a diet.” She laughed, then hurried down the stairs.

  Rick looked down the hall toward Alex’s room. It was decision time. Deal with her first? Or find Marquetta? He headed downstairs to the kitchen. If he talked to Marquetta first—and all went well—they could present a united front with Alex. On his way through the dining room he noticed a pair of empty coffee cups and crumpled cloth napkins on one of the window tables. He tidied up the table and carried the dirty dishes into the kitchen. He backed through the butler door, but when he turned around to take the dishes to the sink, noticed the overhead lights were off. The counters had been cleaned and were ready for the next meal prep. The stools at the island had been pushed in.

  His shoulders slumped as he realized how empty this room felt without Marquetta in it. He placed the dirty dishes in the sink, then went to the French doors that led to the patio. They were closed and locked. Next, he checked the laundry room. It was also empty.

  Rick walked slowly back into the cooking area. He took a final look around. Apparently, he’d be dealing with Alex on his own.

  CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

  Rick

  NO SOONER WAS Rick through the butler door on his way to Alex’s room than he heard Marquetta’s voice coming from the front of the house. It sounded like she was talking to Alex. Rick stopped, put his weight against the buffet table, and waited.

  Alex came into the dining room first, followed by Marquetta. Rick’s breath caught at the sight of them together. So different, yet so similar. He felt the pressure of tears building at the significance—Marquetta was helping Alex become a young woman, and that meant his little girl was growing up.

  “Daddy?” Alex asked. “Are you crying?”

  Rick sniffled, then brushed his cheeks with his fingertips. “I was actually looking for the two of you. Looks like I found you.”

  “Nuh-uh. We found you,” Alex countered. “We were just gonna start on lunch. Flynn is coming, too.”

  “I know.” Rick tugged on Alex’s ponytail. “I called her and she told me we were having grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s not even eleven-thirty. How much work can it be to throw together a grilled cheese sandwich?”

  Marquetta let out an exaggerated gasp. “Obviously, boss, you have been taking my grilled cheese sandwiches for granted. And we’re not just pulling some old can of soup off the shelf. We have work to do.”

  The two of them exchanged a high-five, after which Alex looked up at Rick. “This is gonna be a gourmet lunch!”

  “Far be it from me to stand in the way of the work that needs to be done. I do need to talk to Marquetta for a minute, though.”

  “Okay,” Alex said.

  “Alone,” Rick added.

  Alex scrunched up her face, then looked at Marquetta. “You want me to get started?”

  “Go ahead, Sweetie. You remember what we talked about?”

  “For sure.” Alex slipped past Rick into the kitchen.

  Suddenly, Rick’s pulse pounded so hard in his ears he couldn’t even think.

  “What’s up, boss?”

  “Can we sit for a minute?”

  Marquetta reached for one of the chairs. Without thinking, Rick moved behind her and pulled it out.

  “What’s going on with you, Rick?”

  He pulled out the chair next to hers and sat. “I…um…do have something to talk to you about.” Rick leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “I did some more research about your father’s last day here in Seaside Cove. That photo of your father and Captain Jack? There was a third man there when it was taken. It was Joe Gray. I wanted to see if that changed your thoughts on the letters Captain Jack wrote.”

  Marquetta pulled back and sat up straight. Rick waited while she seemed to process what he’d said.

  “I knew Joe and Captain Jack were tight. I guess I didn’t realize how close they were. You said before that one of those letters was addressed to me and the other to my mother. Do you have any idea what’s in them?”

  “Nobody knows for sure. Joe says they’re behind the map in my office. I don’t even know if they’re really there. I was going to check for them, but if anyone is going to decide what to do, it should be you. Assuming you want to, of course. I think you should decide about the one to your mother, too. If reading it would distress her too much, we can always destroy them.”

  “I’d have to talk to her.” Marquetta seemed to scan the room. She looked up at the chandelier overhead. Smiled. Took a breath. “Captain Jack chose that chandelier because he thought it would impress Francesca.”

  Rick gazed up at the fixture. Francesca Devereaux. The last great love of Captain Jack’s life. “I still can’t believe he remodeled this entire B&B just to impress her.”

  “It’s real, Rick. He did so many things to impress her while she was here. And he never understood until the day she left that she wasn’t really interested. My mom couldn’t take it anymore.”

  “I don’t understand. Couldn’t take what?”

  “The chandelier was the tipping point for Mom. She said she couldn’t stand around and watch a man ruin his life over a woman.” She smiled weakly. “I guess that’s because she watched my dad do the same thing over sunken treasure. After all these years, maybe that letter will provide answers to the questions she’s been living with. I’m not sure yet, but I’m thinking about reading them.”

  “Whether you even want to see them is completely up to you. But you’re okay with it? Reading them?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Do you want me there when you do this?”

  “You’re rushing me.”

  “Sorry, what I was getting at is those letters are to you and your mother. Anytime you want to use my office, with me around or not, feel free to do it.”

  Marquetta’s jaw tightened. She murmured, “I need to get into the kitchen to help Alex. It’s awfully quiet out there.”

  “Okay, but before you do that, I have one other question.” Rick sucked in a quick breath, then slipped off the chair and onto one knee. He took Marquetta’s hand. “I was going to ask this when Alex was around, but I’ve decided I can’t wait a second longer. Marquetta Weiss, I am completely in love with you. I want you to be my wife, my lover, and my partner in life for everything. I also want you to be the mother of my children. And yes, that means I want more. So, would you, will you, mar
ry me?”

  Marquetta’s hand flew to her chest and, after what felt like the longest moment in Rick’s life, she blinked back her brimming tears. She stammered, “I…I…”

  A small voice startled them both. “Say yes.”

  Rick turned on his knee. Alex stood with her back to the butler door biting her lip in anticipation. The look on her face melted his heart and any thoughts of making a comment about eavesdropping. And after all her matchmaking efforts, she deserved to be here for this. Marquetta turned her attention from Alex to Rick.

  “Are you sure? I mean, we only met last year. There are so many things about me you don’t know. I can be moody and unpredictable and…” Her voice trailed off and she darted another glance at Alex.

  “You’re right, there are plenty of things we don’t know about each other,” Rick said. “There’s one thing I do know for sure. And it’s the most important one of all. I am hopelessly, helplessly, in love with you. It’s like I’ve fallen into a giant cavern. I can’t touch the sides. I can’t see what I’m falling toward or where I’ve been. All I know is not only is there no way for me to stop my descent, but I don’t even want it to stop. I just want to freefall forever.”

  Marquetta extended her arm. Alex slipped next to her, never taking her eyes off Marquetta’s face.

  “What about you, Sweetie? Are you sure you want to be stuck with me as your stepmother.”

  Alex shook her head. “No. I don’t want you to be just a stepmother. I want you to be my mom.” She wrapped her arms around Marquetta’s neck and hugged her.

  When the two pulled apart, Marquetta’s weepy gaze settled on Rick. “Yes, I will marry you. On one condition.”

  “What’s that?” Rick’s heart pounded in his chest.

  “I want to adopt Alex. She and I are…”

  “Yes!” Alex blurted.

  “I guess there’s your answer. I…we…want you in our lives forever.” Suddenly, he realized he still hadn’t made it into the jewelry store. “There is one problem. I don’t have a ring yet. I’ll go there as soon as we’re done.”

  “Do I get a say in what ring you choose?” Marquetta raised her eyebrows as she regarded Rick.

  Alex poked Rick in the arm. “Daddy! Marquetta’s already got a ring.”

  Confused, Rick shook his head and frowned. “I don’t understand. You already bought an engagement ring?”

  Marquetta slipped her arm around Alex’s shoulders and pulled her close. “If it’s okay with you, I’d love to use my family’s heirloom engagement ring. It was passed along from my grandmother to my mother, and she’s been holding it for me.”

  “Um…sure. I never thought about…I mean, I thought you’d want something new…yes, of course. If that’s the ring you want, it’s the one you should have. Where is it?”

  “With my mother, silly.” Marquetta leaned over and kissed him.

  As their kiss lingered, Rick sensed Alex at his side and put his arm around her. When he and Marquetta parted, she sat back, a sly smile on her lips.

  “What?” Rick asked.

  “Someone will have to ask Mom for the ring,” Marquetta said.

  Suddenly, Rick felt like he was about to go on his first date ever. He’d never met Marquetta’s mother, and now he had to ask her for the engagement ring? “You drive a hard bargain, Ms. Weiss. But I think I have a secret weapon to help me convince your mother I’m worthy of her daughter’s hand.” He looked sideways at Alex.

  “Awesome,” she whispered. “I get to meet my new grandma!”

  CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

  Alex

  THERE’S A KNOCK on the wall of the dining room. Flynn O’Connor is standing in the doorway, looking like she’s not sure whether she should come in.

  “Flynn!” I rush over to greet her.

  “Am I interrupting? We can do this another time,” she says.

  I’m so happy my heart is ready to explode. “We’re getting married!”

  Flynn seems super surprised, but looks at Daddy and Marquetta. They both smile and the next thing I know we’re all exchanging hugs. After that, Marquetta drapes her hands over my shoulders and stands behind me.

  “Sweetie, we need to get started on those sandwiches and soup. Unfortunately, we’re behind schedule now.” Marquetta looks at Daddy. “Someone threw my timetable off kilter.”

  We go into the kitchen to start on lunch, and even Flynn volunteers to help. Daddy starts setting the table outside; Flynn gets put in charge of slicing cheese; I’m working on putting together the tomatoes; and Marquetta is pulling out the rest of the ingredients. It takes us about thirty minutes, but when we sit down outside and dig into the gooey cheese sandwich and that creamy soup, we’re all in food heaven, and I’m finally gonna get to ask Flynn about the treasure hunters.

  I pull out the photo of the map and show it to her. “You said this is a fake?”

  Flynn shakes her head. “Not exactly a fake. It’s more like a decoration. It doesn’t really show coordinates to a specific site. Even these other ships that have sunk, they’re not marked exactly. It’s not to scale and it’s more artwork than it is a real treasure map. You found it on the wall of Captain Carroll’s stateroom?”

  “Yup. I walked in and was looking around. It was so obvious I almost missed it.”

  “Could there have been another map somewhere in that room?”

  I think back and try to picture what I saw, but I can’t be sure. “Maybe. I dunno. I tried looking where they steer the boat and I didn’t find anything that looked like it was a treasure map.”

  “Hmmm…doesn’t surprise me.” Flynn takes a couple sips of her soup and rolls her eyes. “This is so good.” Then, she looks at me. “So much is done digitally these days. It would have been easy for Captain Carroll to have a GPS that could guide him to exactly the location of a sunken ship. With all the communications advances, he could have even done that with his phone.”

  Daddy laughs. “Back in the old days, when I was reporting in New York, we didn’t have a GPS. Everything was done with paper maps or you stopped and asked for directions, which wasn’t always the safest thing to do.”

  Flynn shakes her head and waves a hand. “Rick, you had it easy. Some of the places I’ve gone on digs? The only way to find it was with a local guide. And sometimes, they were armed for protection.”

  “You win.” My dad throws up his hands in surrender. “I never needed an armed guard. But, I’m curious. Has the digital revolution changed the way you do other things in the field?”

  “Of course. It’s easier to document and communicate. We can store so much more data now than we could even a few years ago. A lot of the ocean dives aren’t even done by people these days. Submersibles with cameras are commonplace. Did you see anything like that on board?”

  I can feel my eyes get real big. Does she mean what I think she does? “Like a little submarine?”

  “Kind of. Call it part submarine and part robot.”

  “That’s awesome. I wish I could’ve seen the whole boat ‘cause there was a lot of cool looking stuff. But I dunno. I didn’t get to see everything.”

  “Cameras,” Daddy mutters. “Oh my God. I just realized how we can find the killer.”

  We all look at him and he’s got his sandwich halfway to his mouth. There’s gooey cheese kind of oozing out the edges of the browned bread. These came out totally awesome. Daddy puts down his sandwich and looks at me. “Alex, what areas of the boat were you in when you were on The Treasure King? Did you see any kind of security camera system?”

  I close my eyes and picture where I was. “I think so…yeah. I was on the top part of the boat. That’s where I found some charts and other stuff. It’s where they steer the boat. There was a TV monitor up there. It was kinda small for a TV, but there’s not a lot of room. It totally could’ve been for security cameras.”

  “Makes sense,” says Flynn. “The captain would probably want to be able to monitor the public areas on a boat that size. Alex, was there a TV
monitor in the captain’s quarters?”

  I have to close my eyes again and picture the room. “I think so…yeah. The same kind that was up on top.”

  Daddy picks up his sandwich again. He’s nodding now and looks happy. “I’ll pass that along to Adam. I expect he already knows about the cameras. Deputy Baker probably spotted them. By the way, she had some of the local divers search the marina and they didn’t find the speargun. If that speargun came from The Treasure King, there should be a video recording of who took it. If Adam can get a search warrant for the surveillance equipment, it’s possible he might actually have video of the thief in action.”

  We finish up our sandwiches and soup, then go back into the kitchen. Me and Marquetta volunteer to do the cleanup, but Flynn says she wants to help again. We form a production line with Daddy washing, Marquetta and Flynn drying, and me putting everything back. Flynn tells us about the next dive she’s planning for the San Manuel, and then she stops in the middle of drying a plate.

  My dad’s washing up Marquetta’s twelve-inch skillet, but stops when he sees Flynn is staring out the window. “Are you okay, Flynn?”

  “I was just thinking. Do you believe the motive for Captain Carroll’s murder was to find the exact location of the San Manuel?”

  “It was either that or someone found out he didn’t really know where it is and killed him in a fit of anger.”

  “That doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Marquetta says. “If it was a crime of passion, why were they carrying a speargun? Wouldn’t that make it premeditated?”

  My dad nods. “You’re right. The problem with this being something that happened in the moment is, why were they carrying that kind of weapon?”

  “They could’ve been going scuba diving,” I say. “Maybe they were going out to spear fish for dinner.”

  “It was probably dark, kiddo.” My dad spreads his hands to his sides, then brings them together. “Visibility in the water would have been like this. Near zero. And what kind of fish are they going to find in the marina?”